I said the audience was heavenly, but the traveling was hell…
Home…
It feels strange after all this time. Physically and emotionally. I said once before that the world feels smaller once you’ve seen more of it – I suppose this is an off-shoot of that.
My job is amazing, but the commute is hell. That’s what flying is for me honestly, a commute, a way to get from one ship to the next. Debark is always an interestingly painful experience and this one was no different – missed connections, lost luggage, broken handles, unsettling seatmates….but at long last I finally made it home.
This time home does feel different. I’ve been away longer, and for once I’ve come home in the spring, everything is clean and fresh, and I’ve spent the last day unpacking and spring cleaning. If I haven’t missed it in 10 months I see no reason to keep it anymore. I feel several pounds lighter as a result. In reality I know that a lot of this is the result of trying to distract myself from not being on the ship.
You see, sliding into your old life isn’t as easy as it would seem. I think the only people who would truly understand (other than my fellow crew members) are people who have been in the military. You’re suddenly coming out of a strictly regimented lifestyle (because ships-side even our free time is carefully planned), to suddenly being ‘normal’. You have to get to know your hometown again, remember bus schedules, find your away around streets that you “should” know like the back of your hand. The floor doesn’t move, and sleep doesn’t come easily because it’s simply too quiet…
It’s hard to describe, and its not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just a shock to the system…and there’s a lot to do before the next turn around…as there always is.
In the meantime I’ll keep clearing out old drawers, labeling photographs, and attempting to get my cat not to ignore me….